Produced by Beth L. Constantine, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
[Illustration: THE SAUCEPAN THROWN IN DEFIANCE]
By EUGENE SUE
[Illustration]
The surprised lapidary rose and opened the door. Two men entered thegarret. One of them was tall and thin, with a face mean and pimpled,surrounded by thick, grayish whiskers; he held in his hand a stoutloaded cane, and wore a shapeless hat and a large green greatcoat,covered with mud, and buttoned close up to the neck; the black velvetcollar, much worn, exposed to view his long, bare, red throat, whichresembled a vulture's. This man was one Malicorne. The other was shortand thick-set, his countenance equally mean, and his hair red. He wasdressed with an attempt at finery, quite ridiculous. Bright studsfastened the front of his shirt, whose cleanliness was more thandoubtful; a long gold chain, passed across his second-hand plaid stuffwaistcoat, was left to view by a velveteen jacket, of a yellowish-graycolor. This man's name was Bourdin.
"Oh, what a stink of misery and death is here!" said Malicorne,stopping at the threshold.
"The fact is, it does not smell of musk. What habits!" repeatedBourdin, turning up his nose in disgust and disdain. He then advancedtoward the artisan, who looked at him with mingled surprise andindignation.
Through the half-open door was seen Hoppy's evil, watchful, andcunning face, who, having followed the strangers, unknown to them, wasnarrowly watching and listening attentively.
"What do you want?" challenged the lapidary, roughly, disgusted withthe rudeness of the two men.
"Jerome Morel," responded Bourdin.
"I am he."
"Working jeweler?"
"The same."
"Are you quite sure?"
"Once more, I am that person; you annoy me—what do you want? Explain,or leave the room!"
"Oh, you are coming the bounce, are you? I say, Malicorne,"said this man, turning toward his companion, "there is no catch here;it is not like the haul at Viscount de Saint-Remy's."
"No, but when there is much, the door is shut against you, as we foundin the Rue de—-. The bird had watched the net, and would not betaken; while such vermin as these stick to their cribs like asnail to his shell."
"It is my opinion that they only require to be jugged to cramthemselves."
"Still the costs will be more than ever the creditor wolf willget here; however, that's his look-out."
"Hold!" said Morel with indignation; "if you were not drunk, as yousurely are, I should be very angry. Instantly leave my room!"
"How very sharp you are this morning, old lopsides!" cried Malicorne,insultingly alluding to the deformity in the lapidary's person.
"Do you hear, Malicorne?—he has the impudence to call this place aroom—a hole where I would not put my dog."
"For heaven's sake!" cried Madeleine, so alarmed, that till then shehad not spoken a word, "call for assistance; perhaps they are thieves.